Grounding. Centering. Nourishing. Steadying.
The beauty of being in touch with the Earth and our natural surroundings
Our Spleen & Stomach Meridians,
The Earth Element
Living in connection with our seasonal environment is an easy and effortless way to make food choices that support the natural alignment of our pure health and balance.
In TCM, our Spleen and Stomach digestive pathways are associated with the Earth Element: grounding and centering. Earth is the element of life that hangs in the balance between Fall and Winter - the Yin seasons - and the more outwardly-focused/Yang energy of the Spring and Summer.
Earth is balanced when it is neither too damp nor dry; too cool nor too hot. Heat-building practices that nourish Spleen & Stomach function and naturally alleviate the tendency to hang on to excess weight involve limiting excessive fats, burning the pathways in heating and centering Yoga asanas, and incorporating more fiber-rich ingredients and seasonal vegetables. Mild amounts of garlic, onion, scallion, and spicy seasonings can also help boost Agni and help re-kindle the metabolism.
There are two common patterns when it comes to Spleen Qi deficiency or Spleen stagnation:
The first is a pattern we refer to as “Wood attacking Earth”, whereby an overloaded Liver drains precious resources from the Spleen, making our digestion sluggish. This pattern can eventually lead to symptoms that include a loss of appetite, loose stools, bloating, and edema or swelling around the abdominal area. As the Spleen is further depleted, there is a tendency for muscle and tissue weakness to manifest in a tenderness of the body, skin that bruises easily, and unexplainable fatigue.
The second pattern to address with Spleen is the middle burner stress pattern. This is where upset emotions and breathing patterns create tension in the diaphragm, and affect the stomach fascia. The act of holding tightness in the diaphragm through constricted breathing places strain on the Stomach, Spleen, and Liver. As our emotional landscape is inextricably linked to our physical body through our organs, a middle burner stress pattern can cause “Wood attacking Earth”, or vice-versa.
The easiest way to manage the emotional component of an overburdened digestive system is to limit stress and focus on deep breathing exercises that relieve the diaphragm and Liver.
Our Liver is designed to filter our blood. We often think about alcohol as a damaging ingredient for this organ, but it is also affected by excessive fat and processed food consumption, our breath, and repressing our emotions.
TCM Nutritional Healing
The Late Summer season is a special fifth chapter of the year, when active Summer energy begins to swell before giving way into the dry and cooling Autumn season.
We witness this in ripening tree fruits and root vegetables, prime garden carrots and potatoes, the peak of our bounteous tomatoes, and squash on the vine. The imminent arrival of Late Summer can be marked by the gleam of silken corn, ripe on the stalk. The Late Summer season lasts from about the third week of August up until the Autumn equinox on September 22nd.
Just as our external environment is undergoing a dramatic and golden transformation, our body is noting the changes by making slight adjustments to our internal processes. As we observe a difference in the amount of available daylight, and acclimate to the shifting temperatures, our metabolism is supported by nurturing our Stomach | Spleen essence before we shift into eating the heavier foods of Autumn and Winter.
Digestive metabolism is supported through a steady, gradual reset that helps prepare our Spleen and Kidneys to thicken our blood- what we decide to eat over the next few months will determine the health and quality of our body, and also help keep us warm during the Winter. Apples, squash, sweet corn, golden potatoes, yams, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and beets are all beneficial seasonal ingredients to incorporate more of during the Late Summer season, and to support Spleen health.
Explore healing recipe suggestions to help boost your Spleen and prepare for the colder seasons ahead.
Breakfast, don’t skip it!
The ideal window of time for our Stomach is between 7-9am. This is a good time to eat our first meal of the day, but if you prefer a later breakfast, eating during the Spleen window from 9-11am works too. While intermittent fasting is very en vogue, if you have any history of disordered eating, or find it hard to lose weight, starting to eat breakfast again might help you repair your metabolism and get your body functioning optimally again.
Breakfast is a warming meal, with plenty of fiber and protein to help get us through the busy morning. Most of us who work and have families will need to rely on breakfast to ensure our digestion stays strong, and we have enough energy to power through our day.
Breakfast Ideas
Warming oatmeal with cinnamon, cashews, and dried fruit
Seeded bagel with plant-based butter or homemade chive spread
Homemade sourdough bread
Warm apple-cinnamon galette
Coffee shop pastry with whole grains- if you are local to Madison, Origin Bakery
Fresh-baked sourdough cinnamon rolls
Warm oats or granola with maple syrup, raw almonds, pumpkin seeds, and Turkish figs
Oatmeal with maple syrup, cashews, and dried cranberries
Overnight oats with local orchard apples, vegan skyr, and maple syrup
Warm sourdough bread with plant butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon
Lunch
Steamed vegetable gyoza
Falafel plate with hummus and crudités
Veggie burger
Warm soba noodle salad with spinach, tofu, and carrots
Vietnamese noodles
Warm wrap with BBQ tofu, sliced red cabbage, and pickled red onion
Leftover roasted vegetables reheated
Warm millet or couscous salad
African peanut stew
Indian buffet
Sometimes, lunch can be the hardest meal to plan for. If you have the luxury of going out with clients or taking a break in your work schedule to walk downtown for a bite, it can be a fun way to try a new restaurant once a week. The rest of the meals can be planned by taking leftovers from dinner the night before, and turning that into an easy, on-the-go plan for lunch.
Leftover curry can be reheated, roasted veggies can go into a wrap or salad, veggie burgers can be reheated in a microwave or toaster oven, and soup can be packed in a thermos.
Make lunch a sacred part of your day. No work or distractions. Eat slowly, mindfully, and if you have time- go for a walk, or sit outside to eat if the weather is nice. Try your best not to power through and skip meals. This will only lead to more burnout and stress. Deep breaths.
Dinner
One-pot paella with Moroccan seasonings
Veggie quesadillas with smoked black beans and sweet corn
Butternut squash pasta
Sweet potato chili
Rice and beans with grilled sweet corn and lime
Roasted carrots, beets, and potatoes with wild rice and mushrooms
Cauliflower curry with local carrots, peas, and Indian seasonings
Stir fried sweet potato noodles with broccoli and peanuts
Baked Japanese sweet potatoes with crispy sesame tofu and scallions
Indian biryani with sweet corn, carrots, green beans, and cashews
Healing curry with turmeric, onion, garlic, cumin, mustard seeds, fenugreek, garam masala + local squash, carrots, cauliflower, garnished with fresh cilantro and lime
For personalized healing recipe guidance, explore a seasonal meal plan.
Plant-based cooking lessons are also offered via Zoom.
Upcoming Wellness Workshop:
Seasonal Astrology & Ayurveda
Learn to Make Ayurvedic Kitchari
Sunday September 22nd
Luminous Rose Beauty